XVIII
George Harcourt was called suddenly to Rome that morning and so evenhearing him talk further about the Bulteels was denied me for the time.I passed some days of the cruelest unrest. There was no sign of Alathea.I allowed Maurice to drag me out into the world and spent my eveningsamong my kind.
A number of my old pals have been killed lately, such an irony when thewar seems to be drawing to a close! There is still an atmosphere oftension and unrestfulness in the air, though.
After an awful week George Harcourt came back and dropped in to see me.I opened fire at once, and asked him to tell me all that he knew of theBulteels, especially his old brother officer Bobby.
"I have a particular reason for asking, George," I said.
"Very curious your speaking of them, Nicholas, because there has justbeen the devil of a fuss in the French Foreign Legion about thatinfernal blackguard; it came to my knowledge in my work."
"Has he been cheating at cards again?"
George nodded.
"Tell me from the beginning."
So he started--many of the bits I already knew. Lady Hilda had been agreat friend of his and he dwelt upon the life of suffering she hadhad.
"There were a few years of frantic love and some sort of happiness, Iexpect, and then funds began to give out, and Bobbie's insane desire togamble led him into the shadiest society, at Baden-Baden and Nice, andother warm spots. Poor Hilda used to go about with him then in a shamed,defiant way, running from any old friend, or staring over his head. Ihappened upon them once or twice in my wanderings; then I lost sight ofthem for some years, and the next thing was someone told me the poorwoman had broken down and was a nervous wreck, and two children had beenborn in quick succession, when the first one was about eleven years old,and the whole family were in miserable straits. I think relations paidup that time--with the understanding that never again were they to beapplied to. And since then I have heard nothing until the other day itcame to my ears that the eldest girl--she must be over twenty now, wassupporting the entire family. One of the children died lately, and nowBobby has put the cap on it. I am sorry for them, but Bobby isimpossible."
Oh! My poor little girl, what a life! How I longed to take her out ofit!
He went on.
"Strange how certain instincts show themselves under every condition.Bobby was no physical coward, and to talk to and mix with casually, themost perfect gentleman you ever met. Awfully well read and a topper atclassics and history, and sang like a bird. He had the grand manner,and could attract any woman, though to give the devil his due--I believefor some years he was faithful to Lady Hilda."
"I should think so!" I said indignantly. "After accepting her greatsacrifice!"
"Nothing lasts, my dear boy, that is not fundamental. Bobby was a rotterthrough and through, and so he couldn't even behave decently to thewoman who had given up everything for him, once her charm went.But--that something in human beings which is unaccountable, when theyare well bred, made him join the French Foreign Legion immediately warbroke out, and behave with great gallantry."
"What brought on the last episode?"
"He was probably bored in the dull post where he was, with not muchfighting to do lately, and resorted to his old game to cover up losses,which he could not pay, and had the bad luck to be caught for the secondtime. I told you he was a fool and did not know how to calculate theprice of his follies."
"When did you hear of this?"
"Only last night on my return, and there will be a disgusting scandal,and the old story will be raked up and it is pretty beastly forEnglishmen."
"Can money keep it quiet, George?"
"I expect so, but who would be fool enough to pay for such a fellow?"
"I would, and will, if you can manage it without letting my nameappear."
"My dear boy, how does it interest you? Why should you do such aquixotic thing? It is twenty-five thousand francs."
"Only twenty-five thousand francs! I'll give you the cheque this minuteGeorge, if you can, in your own way, free the poor devil."
"But Nicholas--you must be mad my dear boy!--Or you have some strongmotive I do not know of."
"Yes, I have--I want this chap freed from disaster, not for his sake,but for the sake of the family. What must that poor lady have gonethrough, and that poor girl!"
George looked at me with his whimsical cynical eye.
"It's awfully decent of you, Nicholas," was all he said though, and Ireached for my cheque-book, and wrote a cheque for thirty thousandfrancs with my stylo.
"You may need the extra five thousand, George--to make sure of thething, and I count on you to patch it up as soon as you can."
He left after that, promising to see into the affair at once, andtelephone me the result--and when he had gone I tried to think over whatit all means?
Alathea did not know of this when I asked her to marry me last week. Shemust never know that I am paying, even if that makes matters easy enoughfor her to refuse me. The reason of her long silence is because thisfresh trouble has fallen upon them, I am sure. I feel so awfully, notbeing able to comfort her. The whole burden upon those youngshoulders.--
Just as I wrote that yesterday, Burton came in to say that Miss Sharpwas in the little salon, and wished to see me, and I sent him to prayher to come in. I rose from my chair to bow to her when she entered, shenever shakes hands. I was awfully pained to see the change in her. Herpoor little white face was thin and woebegone and even her lips pale,and her air was not so proud as usual.
"Won't you sit down," I said with whatever of homage I could put into myvoice.
She was so humbled and miserable, that I knew she would even have takenoff her glasses if I had asked her to, but of course I would not dothat.
She seemed to find it hard to begin. I felt troubled for her andstarted.
"I am awfully glad that you have come back."
She locked her hands together, in the shabby, black suede gloves.
"I have come to tell you that if you will give me twenty-five thousandfrancs this afternoon, I will accept your offer, and will marry you."
I held out my hand in my infinite joy, but I tried to control all otherexhibition of emotion.
"That is awfully good of you--I can't say how I thank you," I said in avoice which sounded quite stern. "Of course I will give you anything inthe world you want." And again I reached for my cheque-book and wrote acheque for fifty thousand and handed it to her.
She looked at it, and went crimson.
"I do not want all that, twenty-five thousand is enough. That is theprice of the bargain."
I would not let this hurt me.
"Since you have consented to marry me, I have the right to give you whatI please--you may need more than you have suggested, and I wanteverything to be smooth and as you would wish."
She trembled all over.
"I--I cannot argue now, I must go at once; but I will think over what Imust say about it."
"If you are going to be my wife, you must know that all that is minewill be yours; so how can a few thousand francs more or less now makeany difference, though if you have any feeling concerning it, you canpay me back out of your first month's dress allowance!" and I tried tosmile.
She started to her feet.
"When shall I see you again?" I pleaded.
"In two days."
"When will you marry me?"
"Whenever you arrange."
"Must you go now?"
"Yes--I must--I am grateful for your generosity, I will fulfill my sideof the bargain."
"And I mine."
I tried to rise, and she handed me my crutch, and then went towards thedoor, there she turned.
"I will come on Friday at ten o'clock as usual, Good-bye," and she bowedand left me.
What a remarkable way to become an engaged man!! But only joy filled meat that moment. I wanted to shout and sing--and thank God!
Alathea will be mine, and surely it will only be a question of timebefore I
can make her love me, my little girl!
I rang for Burton. I must have rung vigorously for he came in hurriedly.
"Burton," I said, "Congratulate me, my old friend--Miss Sharp haspromised to marry me."
For once Burton's imperturbability deserted him, he almost staggered andput his hand to his head.
"God bless my soul, Sir Nicholas," he gasped, and then went on, "Begpardon, Sir, but that is the best piece of news I ever did hear in mylife."
And his dear old eyes were full of tears while he blew his nosevigorously.
"It will be a very quiet wedding, Burton. We shall have it at theConsulate, and I suppose at the church in the _Rue d'Agesseau_, if MissSharp is a Protestant--I have never asked her."
"The wedding don't so much matter, Sir Nicholas. It is having the younglady always here to look after you."
"Without her glasses, Burton!"
"As you say Sir, without them horn things." And there was a world ofunderstanding in his faithful eyes.
He left the room presently with the walk of a boy, so elated was he,and I was left alone, thrilling in every nerve with triumph. How I longfor Friday I cannot possibly say.
In the afternoon Maurice and Alwood Chester, and Madame de Clerte cameto see me, and all exclaimed at my improved appearance.
"Why you look like a million dollars, Nicholas," Alwood said, "What isup, old bird?"
"I am getting well, that is all."
"We are going to have a party on Sunday to introduce you to theloveliest young girl in Paris," Solonge announced. "The daughter of afriend of mine without a great dot, but that does not matter for you,Nicholas. We think that you should marry and marry a _jeune fillefrancaise_!"
"That is sweet of you. I have shown how I appreciate young girls, havenot I?"
"For that--no!" she laughed, "But the time has come--."
I felt amused, what will Alathea think of these, my friends? Solonge isthe best of them.
Maurice had an air of anxiety underneath his watchful friendliness. He'sfine enough to _feel_ atmospheres, or whatever it is that comes frompeople, not in words. He felt that some great change had taken place inme, and he was not sure what aspect it would have in regard to himself.He came back after he had seen Madame de Clerte to her coupe!--She hasessence also now,--and his rather ridiculous, kindly, effeminate,little dark face was appealing.
"_Eh bien, mon ami?_" he said.
"_Eh bien?_"
"There is something, Nicholas, what? Was the clue of any use to you?"
"Yes, thank you a thousand times, Maurice, I could trace the wholething. Miss Sharp comes of a very distinguished family, which I know allabout. Her uncle is a miserable Earl! That is respectable enough,especially a tenth Earl! And her maternal grandfather was a 'Marquess.'"
"_Vrai, mon vieux?_"
"Quite true!"
Maurice was duly interested.
"You were right then about the breeding, it always does show."
I had difficulty in not telling him my news, but I thought it wiser toremain silent until after Friday! Friday! Day of days!
Maurice suspected that there was something beyond in all this, and wasnot sure which course would be the best to pursue; one of sympathy orunconsciousness. He decided upon the latter and presently left me.
Then I telephoned to Cartier to have some rings sent up to look at. Ihave a feeling that I must be very discreet about giving Alatheapresents, or she will be resentful and even suspect that my bargain isnot entirely a business one. I am afraid I seemed a little too pleasedat our interview; I must be indifferently aloof on Friday.
I suppose I had better not give her my mother's pearls until after theceremony. I wonder if there will be a fuss when I suggest her going tothe _Rue de la Paix_ for clothes? I apprehend that there will be astubborn resistance to almost everything I would wish to do.
How will the Duchesse take it! Probably philosophically, once it is anaccomplished fact.
At that moment Burton brought me in a note from that very lady! I openedit eagerly, and its contents made me smile.
The Duchesse wrote to remind me of a request I once made her, that if acertain family were in trouble that I would assist them to any amount.Twenty-five thousand francs were now absolutely necessary on the moment,if I could send them to her by bearer, I would know that I was doing agood deed!
For the third time that day I reached for my cheque-book and wrote acheque, but for only the sum asked on this occasion, and then whenBurton had brought me note paper, I sent a little word with it, to theDuchesse, and when I was alone again I laughed aloud.
Three people determined upon it must surely save the scapegrace!--Iwonder which of the three will get there first!
I would not go out anywhere to dinner, I wanted to be alone to thinkover the whole strange turn of fate. Do strong desires influence events?Or are all these things settled beforehand? Or is there something inreincarnation, which Alathea believes in, and the actions of one lifecause that which looks like fate in the next? We shall have many talkson this subject, I hope.
I wonder, how long it will take for my little love to come voluntarilyinto my arms?----?